alive for questioning’
‘No problem, I’ll see you outside’ they shook hands and Pete departed to control his unit.
‘This is it mate’ Nathan braced his friends shoulder. Jack exhaled sharply, the nerves beginning to get the better of him.
‘Just another day mate……just another day!’
Lime read through the details before him. His eyes leapt from side to side as he absorbed the information. Firstly, Nathan’s personal file had appeared, hidden within one of Jack’s folders. It offered specific criteria and his current place of lodging. He scrolled down, bored by what he was seeing.
‘Where are you…..come on….’ He stopped suddenly as the details he wanted had appeared. The page was titled as Patient Psychological Assessment.
‘Bingo’ he smiled.
Chapter Sixteen
The static bellowed from the vehicle fit radio. Jack held the handset in a sweaty palm. The police van had been parked out of sight from the house, they sat patiently as the cordon team emplaced themselves. He began to fidget, tapping his thigh rapidly as he waited for the call. Nathan observed the Armed Response team as they sat in the rear. Their helmets pulled tight, the visors moved down to cover the face. They appeared larger with the bullet proof vests strapped to their torsos. Nathan tapped his vest with his knuckles; he felt the dull thud deep in the pit of his stomach.
‘Team One……Cordon in place, over’ the voice cackled from the speaker. Jack sat forward as the news alerted him.
‘Roger that Team One, out to you, Team Two send your sitrep, over’ silence…..
Seconds passed and the out of breathe voice whispered through the radio.
‘Team Two in position. I have eyes on to the perimeter, looks all clear, over’
‘Roger, wait out’
Jack removed the mobile phone from his pocket and searched the address book for the surveillance team. He selected call as their number was highlighted. It was answered quickly and the team confirmed no change to the situation. Jack prepared himself mentally.
‘All teams….stand by, stand by’ he turned to Logan who sat directly behind him. He was met by a slow nod of the head.
‘Okay boys, last checks’ Logan ordered and the team shuffled as they checked their personal equipment. Armed with MP5’s and Glock pistols, they confirmed their weapons were at the ready. Safety catches were applied and fitted magazines were removed to confirm they were loaded with the 9mm rounds. Nathan watched the men prepare for the battle, he felt as though they were going to war….he felt naked holding no weapon. The last man gave a thumb up and Logan tapped Jack’s shoulder, confirming their readiness. Heavy breathing filled the van, the sweat ran down their faces and accumulated around the neck. Nathan felt the drips snaking their way down his chest from his arm pits. The weather was mild and the snow still held its cool texture, but the heat in the van was unbearable; each man was eager to disembark the mobile oven.
‘All teams stand by….stand by…….GO GO GO, GO GO GO’ he had barely finished issuing the order when the man dismounted the van and ran along the brick wall that hand railed the house. They stopped and knelt in line by the iron gates. Jack and Nathan pushed up to the front where Pete had held the team. Pete pointed at the first four men and signalled them to move to the house and head around the back. They floated silently like ghosts, making sure to stay out of sight. The last man approached the wall and turned giving a thumb up.
‘Okay, Jack…..you ready?’ he asked from behind the transparent visor.
‘Let’s go’
They moved quickly to the front door, the last man held a large metal tool.
‘Hooligan in place’
The crowbar type object known as the Hooligan was inserted where the door meets the frame, he placed the large teeth just above the door handle. Pete Logan raised three fingers to the man holding the tool, his grip clamped tighter like a vice. He began the countdown, from three fingers to two…..to one…..he nodded. The crack shook the frame and wood splintered in all directions, the words GO, GO, GO rang in Nathans ears once again as they entered. The team at the rear of the house smashed their way into the kitchen, the hooligan destroyed the door. One by one the rooms were cleared and Jack stood with Nathan by the front door. They watched and admired the fluidity of the strike, the rooms checked and cleared in a smooth professional motion. The adrenalin surged through every man, the sweat pouring from their brows.
‘All clear….the house is all clear’ shouted Pete from the top floor.
‘All teams that’s an All Clear, I say again All Clear’ Jack repeated into the handheld radio. The task teams outside confirmed his last message as he walked through the building. There was no sign of life.
Nathan walked alone, the top floor being searched by the assigned team. Each room he entered was followed with a shake of the head. The individuals searched through wardrobes and cabinets, finding nothing or relevance to The Wolf. Jack stood in the living room, his fingers secretly crossed out of sight.
‘I hate to say it’ began Nathan as he joined his friend.
‘Well don’t, please’ Jack stopped him finishing his statement.
They stood side by side as the pandemonium occurred before their eyes, the vigorous searching and the unwanted results. They were presented with an awkward situation. Both men believed that this was the location of the beast they were hunting, but the evidence failed to show them that they were right. Through the back window they spotted two men at the shed. They were in conversation with each other but the words could not be heard. They ushered the hooligan tool over and began wedging it above the lock. Jack moved towards the rear door and Nathan followed, eager to see what was happening. Jack opened his mouth to speak but his words were drowned out by the splitting of the wooden door, the light brown splinters shooting towards the men breaking in. Jack moved closer to observe.
‘Anything?’ he asked
‘Not sure Sir, wait one’ the PC entered the shed, his head rotating as he scanned his new surroundings.
‘What do you see?’ quizzed Jack as he stepped closer to the broken door.
‘There’s a barrel, a large barrel’ came the voice.
‘Barrel?’ whispered Nathan. They moved to the doorway and watched the officer drag the container into view. He rocked it steadily from side to side, pulling each time an end was lifted from the ground.
‘Fuck me it’s heavy’ he spat as he neared the door. The oil drum was sealed by three metal clasps, the teeth bit around the lid. Wiping his brow, the man who retrieved it stepped aside, allowing Jack to take his place.
‘What do you think?’ he asked Nathan without eye contact.
‘Could be anything’
‘Could be a bomb!’ the words faint from behind them. Everybody turned to face the person who issued the statement. The female officer stood with her hands on her hips.
‘Could be!’ she said.
‘She’s right Jack. May be worth getting the EOD team down here to give it a once over’ Nathan concerned by her words. Jack pondered the idea, his eyes closed as the cool wind chilled his sweat soaked body.
‘No. There’s no time….we need to open it now’ his hand reaching for the hooligan. The people watching the scene began to step back cautiously, as if something was going to spring from within the container. The tool was rammed under the first clasp, wedging it up slowly until it pinged free. Nathan felt himself following suit and moving rearwards. The second ping followed…the third close behind.
Jack placed both hands either side of the circular lid and shifted it to one side. The smell hit them instantly. Jack curled over to his side, Nathan threw his arm up under his nose; several observers emptied the contents of their stomachs. The pungent smell burned at their nostrils. They blinked away tears as the smell delivered an instant headache. Coughs spurted in all directions as Jack stood to witness the reason for such a stench. The liquid inside was thick, almost curdled. Chunks floated with green and yellow foam upon the surface. He moved in closer to identify the find. Peeking from under the reeking substance was a greying object; he kicked the side of the drum
